Well, we are now fully fledged Highland Games goers! We had planned our trip to ensure we were here at Bonar Bridge for the Invercharron Highland Games, the last of the season and we weren't disappointed. Held on a roughly mown paddock just out of the town they seemed a combination of a good old country show, school athletic carnival, social get-together and general all round fun day. We loved it all - running races, bike races, caber tossing, high jumping, throwing various heavy bits of metal, highland dancing, bagpipe playing, tug-a wars, strong man and woman contests even kids sack races and child and parent egg and spoon races. It was an all round hoot! We arrived soon after the 10am start and didn't leave until after 5pm, just in time to see the home-made raft race in the river in the middle of the town - a surprising end to a wonderful day! Unfortunately the hotel accommodation lived up to our expectations - we now know why it hasn't any star rating!!!!
one of the younger dancers competing
Piper competing in the Pibroch - a complicated bagpipe piece which, I think, you have to be a real pipe lover to truly appreciate.
Throwing the 56lb weight over the bar - not all that easy!
Also competing in the Pibroch
up up and away!
the MC for the day - quite amusing banter which never stopped!
cool but still smiling
The Tain Pipe band leading the Officials for the Games Opening
Honorary Chieftain opening the games
Saluting the Four Winds to open the Games
yes, its a sack race
heavy weight shot put
child and parent egg and spoon race - loads of laughs
part of the strong man contest - tossing this tractor tyre over and over - about 20 times!
racing bicycles around a roughly mown track took some effort but nothing seemed to deter these hardy folks
No lanes just get out there and run!
tossing a wheat bag - part of the strong man contest
and carrying two cement blocks!
tug-a-war - really amazing feat of strength that went of for what seemed like ages.
some sort of official in the tug-a-war
no, that's not tea!
even the onlookers looked the part
a quite unusual type of pole vault - the pole has a spike in its base - the heights aren't of olympic quality!
We arrived soon after the 10am start and didn't leave until after 5pm, just in time to see the home-made raft race in the river in the middle of the town - a surprising end to a wonderful day!
Unfortunately the hotel accommodation lived up to our expectations - we now know why it hasn't any star rating!!!!